Providing a Unique & Affordable Selection of High Quality Red Wines and White Wines for Your Enjoyment. Also featured: Rosé, Port, Icewine, Champagne and Sparkling Wine for Special Occasions. Cheers!
wine is a rosé wine that was purchased last year from the LCBO VINTAGES Release on - a release that featured an assortment of rosés for Springtime enjoyment. I didn't intend on holding this until Winter, but having said that, I've always enjoyed a nice dry rosé during the cold months. Do you enjoy rosé wines in Winter? Leave a comment below.
Furthermore, this wine actually re-appeared in VINTAGES on and is currently widely available through the province.
Tasting Note:
CHÂTEAU LA TOUR DE L’ÉVÊQUE ROSÉ 2015 - Harvested by hand, AC Côtes de Provence, France (#319392) (XD) - $19.95
A blend of 8 varietals that include Cinsault (40%), Grenache (35%), and Syrah (12%). Light aromas of red fruits with hints of floral and honey from the cork. Medium+ aromatics are ripe in style with red fruits (cherry, strawberry) and herbs along with hints of floral, grapefruit and honey. Flavours are also ripe with more red fruit, herbs, and honeyed notes on a medium+ bodied palate that is balanced by bright acidity. Finishes dry with very good length. A fine dry rosé with substance for dining. Will be enjoyed with Dungeness crab curry. Score: 89 pts
wine was bottled last , but only released by the winery for home delivery across Canada a few weeks ago.
This small batch organic Chardonnay has been produced by Southbrook Vineyards for many years now. I've tasted the previous 3 vintages (2014, 2013 and 2012), which were all delicious, and I expect the 2015 to also be delicious, while continuing to be suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
Ann Sperling is director of winemaking and viticulture at Southbrook, and with three decades of experience in winegrowing and winemaking, she is considered a leading force in the Canadian movement towards organic and biodynamic winemaking.
The 2015 vintage is currently only available at the winery, or online through their website. Previous vintages of this wine have showed up on LCBO VINTAGES shelves. However, since only 800 cases were produced, it may or may not show up this time around.
Tasting Note:
SOUTHBROOK ORGANIC TRIOMPHE CHARDONNAY 2015 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#172338) (XD) - $22.95
Stelvin screw cap. Quite a change in style compared to the last vintage, this has subtle aromas of orchard fruits, earth and yeast. The palate is medium+ bodied with more orchard fruit flavours like apple and pear, with underlying earthy flavours, and ending with slightly honeyed notes. Some interesting salty notes mid-palate. Acids are prickly and juicy, providing freshness. Finish is earthy and dry, with very good length. I would put this away for another year to let it develop further. Serve with only a light chill. Score: 88 pts
wine is something we haven't seen in many, many years - a Triomphe Pinot Noir from Southbrook Vineyards.
Since moving to Niagara and starting their own organic production, only organically grown grapes are chosen for Southbrook's Triomphe line of wines. And since they didn't plant any Pinot Noir (or Riesling) at their site in Four Mile Creek (in Niagara-on-the-Lake), they did not produce a Pinot Noir for their Triomphe line - until now. The grapes for this wine are sourced from Heather Laundry's certified organic vineyard at their Lincoln Lakeshore site.
For this vintage, the grapes were hand-harvested and naturally fermented with 40% whole clusters. It was matured for 9 months in mostly neutral French oak.
This organic wine is only available from the winery and can be ordered for home delivery across the country. Only 250 cases produced, so visit the Southbrook Vineyards website to place your order today!
Tasting Note:
SOUTHBROOK ORGANIC TRIOMPHE PINOT NOIR 2015 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (XD) - $29.95
Subtle aromas of strawberry, cherry and subtle spice from the cork. Crafted by the talented Ann Sperling with grapes sourced from the Laundry Vineyard, this organic red wine has medium+ intensity aromatics offering cherry, strawberry, raspberry, sweet herbs and a whiff of earthiness in the glass. Some dried floral aromas emerge with air. It's light-bodied but gains texture in the mouth. Smooth, refined tannins on the palate with earthy, red currant strawberry, cherry and mushroom flavours. Acids are fresh and balanced. Some milk chocolate notes on the long finish. Fairly complex overall and should evolve nicely over the next 3-4 years. Score: 89 pts
The upcoming VINTAGES Release on brings with it the return of duo-thematic releases. However, the wines in the second theme (Portugal) aren't very interesting, so we'll stick with the main theme that is Argentina. As per the usual, wines will be on LCBO VINTAGES shelves on - or a few days earlier depending on the store.
Wines from 6 top producers in Argentina is the main theme and each producer got 2 wines listed, for a total of 12 wines. It's a solid selection, with 7 of the 12 wines included among my top wine picks. In white wines, there is a nice Chardonnay from Mendoza, while the excellent Torrontés is from the northern Argentina wine region of Salta. At the top-end in red wines is a Cabernet Sauvignon from the iconic Catena Zapata wine family. Lastly, there are four Malbec wines ranging in price from $19 to $30, and from vintages 2013 to a fairly young 2015. Argentina is synonymous with Malbec, and the grapes for the wines I've chosen are grown in various parts of the country, from Salta in the north, to Mendoza in central Argentina, and Patagonia to the south. Buy all of them and taste the differences side-by-side!
From the rest of the release, in red wines from Rhône, the Vacqueyras is a blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre, while the Saint-Joseph is an old vines Syrah. Also from Rhône, the Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre, 3% Cinsault and 2% Counoise. The Gamay Noir "Droit" is made from a clone of Gamay that presented itself at the vineyards of Château des Charmes - it's a much bigger and more complex wine than your typical Gamay and definitely worth checking out. Lastly, the 2010 Rioja comes from an excellent vintage and is blend with 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo (Carignan).
In white wines, the Gavi is made with Cortese, while the Sancerre is a Sauvignon Blanc. For sweet wine lovers, the Gewürztraminer is your best bet. The rest of the wines are all oaked Chardonnay.
There are a pair of aged Champagnes worth your attention. The 1997 Champagne is a 50/50 blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir for consumption now, while the 2006 Pol Roger is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay that can be aged further.
Enjoy my wine recommendations from this release! Salud!
Red Wine:
ESPELT VITICULTORS OLD VINES GARNACHA 2015 - DO Empordà, Spain (#422469) (D) - $15.95
CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES ST. DAVID’S BENCH VINEYARD GAMAY NOIR DROIT 2015 - VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (#346742) (XD) - $17.95
wine is a lovely white wine made with Sauvignon Blanc that will be released into LCBO VINTAGES on .
It is produced by Jean-Max Roger and his family that come from a long line of winegrowers dating back to at least the 17th century. He took over the four hectares of vines left to him by his parents in the early 1970s and expanded the estate to its current size of 26 ha in the Sancerre AOC and 6 ha of vines in the Menetou-Salon AOC.
This "C.M." cuvee is named after the soil types where the grapes for this Sauvignon Blanc wine were grown: "Caillottes" and "Kimmeridgian Marls". Each soil type imparts different characteristics - Caillottes gives the wine its floral and fruity notes, along with lightness and freshness, while the Kimmeridgian Marls ("terres blanches") provides structure, richness and power.
Tasting Note:
JEAN-MAX ROGER CUVÉE C.M. SANCERRE BLANC 2014 - AC, Loire, France (#196667) (XD) - $27.95
Inviting lemon flower, honey and citrus aromas from the cork. In the glass, this has highly aromatic and complex aromas of citrusy fruit - lemon/lime mingling with asparagus, herbal, nettle qualities, a tinge of honey, all surrounded by mineral elements. The palate is medium-bodied and fleshy with grapefruit, lemon citrus, herbal, and nettle flavours. Nicely balanced acids are juicy. Finishing long. Well-composed and elegant overall. Very enjoyable. Score: 90+ pts
On this wintry day filled with snow, wine is this bright white wine from the warmer climes of South Africa.
This wine is produced by Durbanville Hills, a winery located in Durbanville, just 20 minutes outside Cape Town. The winery has a spectacular view overlooking Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean, whose cool crisp air and rolling mists embrace the vineyards. The Durbanville area is the second oldest winegrowing region in South Africa and is considered a cool-climate region that is renowned for its Sauvignon Blanc.
For the 2016 vintage, this white wine arrives at the LCBO with new packaging and is quite readily available throughout Ontario as a General List product.
Tasting Note:
DURBANVILLE HILLS ATLANTIC VIEW SAUVIGNON BLANC 2016 - WO Durbanville, South Africa (#022251) (XD) - $11.95
Integrity and sustainability certified. Screw cap. Quite fragrant on the nose with gooseberry, kiwi, asparagus, key lime, citrus and hints of steely minerality. The palate is medium-bodied and fleshy with high acids. Citrus, asparagus, melon, and pear flavour profile. Juicy finish. Refreshing wine to pair with veggie night, poultry, or seafood. Score: 87 pts
wine is a lovely offering that will be released into LCBO VINTAGES on . Back in 2015, I reviewed the 2012 Lavau Vacqueyras, and that was the last time this wine showed up at the LCBO - until now.
The Lavau family has been making wine for several generations in the area ranging from Bordeaux to the hills of Tunisia. In 1964, the family settled in the southern Rhône Valley as they were seduced by the richness and quality of the Provençal soil and 40 years later, the cellar is now managed by Benoit and Frederic Lavau. With possession of 3 cellars and working with 300 grape growers, the Lavau winery vinifies most of the appellations of the southern Rhône Valley.
Tasting Note:
LAVAU VACQUEYRAS 2014 - AC, Rhône, France (#104927) (D) - $25.95
GSM blend consisting of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre. Plum and ripe berry aromas from the cork. Medium-high aromatics featuring mineral followed by mulberry, blackberry, sweet herbs, ending with hints of earth. Ripe, sweet-edged flavours of blackberry, dark fruit, and cinnamon spice on the medium-bodied palate with finely-grained, slightly grippy tannins. Acids are fresh and a touch sharp. Long, satisfying, earthen finish. I would age this another year or two and drink over the next 6-7 years. Enjoy with lamb or rich poultry dishes. Score: 90 pts
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
